It's been raining here all last week, but this upcoming week looks okay. The trail will dry out without any issues before next Saturday. At worst it might be a little tacky, but I predict it'll be fine. Thankfully that trail doesn't hold water and never gets really muddy.

I was pulling for Joe Uhan to earn a WS entry, but he dropped at 13. Normally he's top 10 at WS, so automatic, but he dropped last year in the heat. I saw him come through Michigan Bluff looking toasted -- shortly later he was back, and out.

Guess I won't be seeing him there this year. Or are there any Montrail Cup races left?

So I hear. But surely Pam still has to be the odds-on favorite. Harrison was 7th place last year, two hours behind Pam. Is there some reason to think she's massively improved this year? Granted Pam was more highly motivated last year, coming off a disastrous 2012 performance. But my money's still on her.

So I hear. But surely Pam still has to be the odds-on favorite. Harrison was 7th place last year, two hours behind Pam. Is there some reason to think she's massively improved this year? Granted Pam was more highly motivated last year, coming off a disastrous 2012 performance. But my money's still on her.

I think what Pam did last year is what Tim did in the mens race two years ago. Opened up peoples minds that the course record could be taken down by a big margin. Same as what Max King did at Ice Age. Just like in marathons elites are pushing the pace to the breaking point. So yeah, I think Pam will have some stiff competition and I would put my money on Kaci. If she can execute the race, her raw speed gives her a hell of an advantage.

I think what Pam did last year is what Tim did in the mens race two years ago. Opened up peoples minds that the course record could be taken down by a big margin. ... and I would put my money on Kaci. If she can execute the race, her raw speed gives her a hell of an advantage.

Maybe so. I hear she ran a 2:50 marathon a week before Ice Ace. Pam has never run that fast. OTOH she has done several other amazing things since WS last year, and has a big course-knowledge advantage.

BTW Pam didn't take down the course record. Ellie Greenwood took down Ann Trason's "unbeatable" CR in 2012. I don't know whether Pam is potentially in that league, but 2013 was not the year for records to fall.

I ran most of the Ice Age course last weekend training for a 100 on almost the same course. I tried to imagine running 6:50 pace even on some of the steep downhills (not to mention the uphills) but I just couldn't fathom it. 6:50 pace is marathon pace for me on flats, so you would think downhill would be faster. Not so. Either Max ran sub 6 on a big chunk of the course or went kamikaze on the downhills, I'm not sure but Ice Age has few stretches where you can go straight and fast., maybe 30% of the course.

I consider myself pretty agile on the trails but after Max's performance it seems to me like hill training, weekly long runs on trails and speedwork are not enough to get your max performance on trails like Ice Age. You have to do speed work and sprints on technical trail to increase your agility and take every advantage you can. The bar continues to raise...